Watch 5 things you need to know about the Graco Featherweight stroller

We already own a Baby Jogger City Mini that we bought when my eldest little boy Ellis, now 2.5 years old, was first born. And we also have the iCandy Orange that’s perfect when we’re out and about with both boys. My youngest Theo, 15 months, sits in the seat and Ellis loves to stand on its built-in buggy board.

While I do love both buggies, and at 7.6kg the Baby Jogger City Mini is relatively lightweight for a travel system, they are both more cumbersome than a stroller. I really wanted to find a stroller I could use when taking Theo out by himself that wouldn’t require much effort to carry, as he’s quite heavy. The Graco Featherweight sounded like it would definitely fit the bill.

I live in a first floor flat and have to navigate various flights of stairs. The prospect of a super light buggy I can fold with one hand sounded more than appealing. And without a doubt the standout feature of this buggy is it’s weight, or lack of it.

It’s so portable I can carry it right up into our flat instead of leaving it in our communal hallway. Although, the downside to this is that it made using the bus problematic. There wasn’t enough weight behind it for me to be able to get the buggy onto the front of the bus and people had to help me lift it up and carry it.

I also love that it comes with an ingenious carry strap. Not only could I take Theo out of the buggy and fold it with one hand. I could also put it over my shoulder and carry it in at the same time, avoiding multiple journeys up and down the stairs to my flat.

Then there’s the fold system and again it’s pretty nifty. It’s incredibly simple to operate. You just slide a catch on the handle across then push in a button and it folds in on itself while staying upright so you can store it freestanding.

Having seat padding that’s removable and machine washable is also a massive bonus. Theo managed to get the seat dirty the first time we took it out. It’s reassuring to know I can just stick it in the wash.

This buggy is perfect for day trips and holidays. But saying that, I struggled to operate the brake using flip-flops, which may limit your choice of footwear if you’re planning to go somewhere hot. And compared to my Baby Jogger City Mini and iCandy Orange buggies I found the coverage from the sun canopy disappointing.

This buggy is sold on being only 3.6kg, does the weight hamper its durability?

Because it’s so light I was a bit dubious at first about how sturdy this pushchair would be. It reminded me of the toy buggies you can get for your little ones. I was pleasantly surprised as it was easy to steer and manageable walking down the street and mounting kerbs. The only time I felt its lightness was an issue was trying to get on the bus as there wasn’t enough weight behind it for me to be able to get the buggy onto it.

How does it ride in parks, over tree roots, up hills, how is the suspension?

Surprisingly well. I didn’t have any difficulty using the buggy in the park and taking it across the grass or over tree roots and cobbled surfaces.

Admittedly it didn’t feel as smooth a ride as my Baby Jogger City Mini and Orange iCandy but I had no complaints from Theo. The front swivel wheels can be locked into place making it easier and more secure to push the buggy on rough terrain. I did find the pedal to operate it a bit fiddly and had to do it with my hands rather than my feet.

How does it work as a city buggy, on transport – buses and trains – how does it do in shopping aisles or when out and about as a typical urbanite?

Living in London I rely heavily on public transport and I was disappointed to find the buggy let me down when using it on the bus. Because the front of the stroller is so compact I struggled to get it up and onto the bus.

The step at the front of the bus was too high and each time I attempted to hold the handles of the stroller, tip it back and pop it on the bus, it couldn't reach.

So it's worth noting you will have to probably pick up the whole buggy with your child in it and put it on the bus that way. But it would definitely be more of a pain having to do that if you're by yourself and it's not ideal for your back.

I have to admit - I panicked when getting on the bus because there are always lots of people trying to get on it, very quickly. So when my usual tactic of getting the buggy on the bus didn't work, I had to be rescued by a kind fellow passenger who helped me to carry it on.

Once I was safely on the bus fitting it into the space for buggies was a breeze as it’s quite compact.

Mounting kerbs in the street and navigating it round the supermarket and shops was a doddle.

I could push it with one hand and it easily fitted down the aisle at the checkout. But the lack of space in the shopping basket meant it’s not the kind of buggy I’d want to take out to the supermarket with me.

At best I could squeeze in a bag of shopping, compared to three or more in my Baby Jogger City Mini.

I didn’t attempt to use it on the tube or train after that as the gap between the train and the platform is even bigger and I didn’t think I’d be able to get the buggy on to either without some help.

For me this is the sort of pushchair I’d use on days out, for going to the park, doing the nursery drop off and occasions when I just need to pop out and don’t want to have to lug a travel system with me.

How compact is it?

Unlike my Baby Jogger City Mini, this buggy is so light and compact I can actually store it in the hallway in my flat, as opposed to downstairs in our communal hallway, as it stands up by itself and doesn’t take up much room. It folds down to H89cm x W43cm x L31cm.

How easy is it to store?

One of the things I love about this buggy is how easy it is to store. It stays freestanding and upright when you fold it down so there’s no bending involved.

Is it affordable for what it is?

The Graco Featherweight retails at £150. It does feel a tad pricey for what it is and is £50 more expensive than the Chicco OhLaLa, priced at £100. But I’d say what you’re paying for is convenience and the fact that it is genuinely so light and easy to transport.

Is it suitable from birth? Do you think it is suitable for a newborn?

This buggy is suitable from birth and you can recline it back. But in all honesty I’m not sure I’d have felt comfortable using it with Ellis or Theo when they were first born. Mainly because if you have the hood up you can’t see your baby so it limits interaction and I personally preferred having them in a carrycot as it felt snug and safe for them.

What do you think of the seat size?

Theo is 15 months and a big boy and the width of the seat size, 30cm, is generous. For some reason though it does feel as if it won’t last him till he’s 3 years. But perhaps that’s because it’s so dainty and so it makes it seem he’s too big for it.

What do you think of the height of the buggy?

I did feel the buggy was a little on the low side. It’s 97cm high, making it 3.5cm lower than my Baby Jogger City Mini at 100.5cm.

Is the frame strong, durable?

The frame is light but sturdy and able to hold both Theo and Ellis’s weight.

Watch how to fold the Graco Featherweight

What do you think of the fold system?

The fold system is brilliant because it’s so effortless. You just slide the button on the handle across and then squeeze the button, you can tell if you’ve done it correctly as it changes colour from blue to red and then fold it in. Again you’ll know if you’ve done it properly as the gauge will go back to blue.

Is it a one-hand fold?

Yes. Another massive plus point for me with this buggy is that you can fold it with one hand. I live in a first floor flat and have to go up various flights of stairs. It allows me to take Theo or Ellis out, fold the buggy, and carry it up with me all in one go. The other cool feature that I love is the buggy’s carry strap. Once the buggy is folded I can put it over my shoulder, leaving me hands-free to not only take Theo up the stairs but also the one bag of shopping that I’ve managed to squeeze into the basket too.

What do you think of handlebar?

The handle on the Graco Featherweight isn’t adjustable. I didn’t find this a problem as the one on my Baby Jogger City Mini is also fixed so I’m used to it. And it doesn’t seem to affect its manoeuvrability.

How comfortable does it feel for your little ones?

Theo seemed fairly comfy sitting in it, although I noticed he did slip down a little in it. And unlike when we’ve been out in the iCandy Orange and Baby Jogger City Mini he didn’t fall asleep in it straight away.

The straps have shoulder pads on them — Theo enjoyed giving them a good chew.

And it has a five-point harness that’s clicks into place without any fuss, although you do have to slide the strap through the buckle each time you use it.

It also has a removable padded seat liner. This is another great feature as it means you can take it off and clean it. Perfect for us as Theo managed to drop food all over the seat the first time we took the buggy for a spin.

How is interacting with your little ones when in the buggy?

The only downside for me about this buggy is that I can’t see Theo if I’ve got the hood up. Chatting to him is fine when it’s down but unlike with my Baby Jogger City Mini and iCandy Orange it doesn’t have a see-through window or mesh ventilation, which is why I wouldn’t be keen to use it from birth.

What do you think of the hood? Can it be used as a sun protection?

I have to admit I wasn’t too impressed with the hood but this could be because I’m used to the hoods on the Baby Jogger City Mini and the iCandy Orange, both of which give an impressive amount of coverage.

The hood on the Graco Featherweight doesn’t extend that far and you would definitely need additional sun protection on a hot day. Plus, it doesn’t state anywhere if the hood offers UV protection. I also found it a bit fiddly at the back as it attaches with Velcro but I couldn’t work out whether the hood material at the back was supposed to hang down or be tucked out of sight and it kept getting on the way.

What are the basket and storage pockets like?

For me this really isn’t a buggy you’d go shopping with. The basket is tiny so you can only fit the bare minimum. I just about fitted some milk and a few bits in it but I then had to take our jackets out from underneath as there wasn’t enough space and I couldn’t find any storage pockets.

What do you think of the tyres?

I’m used to the thick, chunky wheels and tyres on my Baby Jogger City Mini and Orange iCandy so I almost felt nervous taking the boys out in this buggy as its wheels seem so small. But then I guess in turn they have to hold less weight as the chassis of the Graco Featherweight is so light. There are two double wheels at the front of the buggy and a single wheel at the back and they did make a slight clinking noise when we were using it. My only concern is that they may need replacing after lots of heavy-duty wear.

Tell us about the brakes

The brake is located at the back of the buggy and what’s particularly handy is that you can operate it from either side.

You just press down on the brake on either the right or the left and make sure it clicks into place. The only snag, as I discovered when I took Theo out on a sunny day, is that I couldn’t work the break wearing flip-flops. In the end I was forced to bend down and put the brake on with my hand as there was no other way for me to do it.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

The buggy easily fits into the boot of our car with plenty of room to spare. We do have a large family car but I can’t imagine it being a problem fitting it into much smaller cars.

What age child is it best for?

My youngest Theo is 14 months and he was very happy sitting in it while we were out and about. I’d say once your little one is sitting up unaided and more alert they would be fine in this buggy. It is suitable from birth but I personally wouldn’t like the idea of having them in it so young because I wouldn’t be able to see them with the hood up. It says that the buggy is suitable for up to 15kg which is around 3 years old but I’m not convinced Theo will still be able to fit in it by then.

Is it easy/hard to build the product? Instructions useful? How long does it take?

The beauty of this stroller is that it doesn’t require any building, it’s pre-assembled in the box, you just need to unfold it. The instructions were fairly basic and easy to follow, although it took me a while to understand the instructions telling you what not to do.

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the item?

That it’s not really suited for using on public transport. Its lack of weight made it difficult for me to get it on and off the bus.

Who would the product be most useful for?

Parents on the go who are after a super lightweight buggy. It’s ideal for someone like me who has to go up stairs, days out and holidays.

Is there anything unique about this product?

As its name suggests this buggy is truly featherweight. It’s the lightest of any stroller I’ve ever used and currently weighing in at 3.6kg, the lightest buggy you can buy in the UK.

Is it good value for money?

The Graco Featherweight costs £149.99 but this doesn’t include any extras.The raincover and footmuff are sold separately as part of an accessory pack, priced at £25, so the price does mount up slightly.

As for whether its good value for money, I think it depends on what you need it for. If you’re after a buggy for everyday use on public transport then you’re probably wasting your money. Whereas if you drive and after a handy, portable, lightweight buggy for short trips and holidays it’s ideal.

MadeForMums verdict:

When it comes to portable pushchairs you really won’t find one lighter than the Graco Featherweight. It’s a dream to fold and is surprisingly robust but if you rely on public transport it’s probably not the right buggy for you.

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